对租客申请人的信用调查（Checking credit）并非仅仅指获取一个信用报告（Credit report），还包括租客的收入和向前房东了解参考意见。而前房东对该租客的意见往往是很重要的。
有些人担心前房东因为想这个租客走或者不想这个租客走而不说真话，其实这种担心是没有必要的。作为房东，我也回答过很多查询，不管是想这个租客留还是想他/她走，我自己都是如实回答询问。在美国这些年来我已经查过无数租客的房东意见，我的判断是都得到了房东们真实的回答。
下面是总结的向租客前房东询问的问题：
Rental Verification
When did the Tenant rent from you? (From when to when?)
Was this rental on lease term or month by month?
Is this rental an apartment, house, duplex, trailer, dorm, or other?
What was the rent amount per month?
Did the rent include any utility? If yes, which one?
Is there currently a balance due? If yes, how much?
Did the Tenant pay rent on time? If didn’t, how many times the Tenant had late payment?
Any legal notices served for NON-Payment? If yes, what kind and how many times?
Any legal notices served for NON-Compliance? If yes, what kind and how many times?
Were there unauthorized occupants on this lease/rent?
Were there unauthorized pets on this rental property?
Were there any complaints from neighbors?
Has this Tenant ever given you or your staff a difficult time?
Are you are a friend or relative of Tenant?
Did the Tenant give proper notice to vacate?
Did the Tenant make any damage in the rental unit?
Was the applicant ever asked to vacate the unit?
Would you re-rent to the Tenant again?
上面的问题有些是租客在申请表上已经写了的。但是我依然通过问前房东来证实。这个做法可以从另外一个侧面了解租客是否说假话。
实际使用时，我根据情况增减。例如，要是对方（前房东）肯在电话上回答就问少一点；要是对方要求出书面的，我就列全部问题。